"State transportation workers had log ago envisioned the corridor would be refurbished by 2019, according to state records. But to fully collect federal stimulus money, it needed to be finished by mid-2017.
"That??s why the route opened on Monday. Had officials waited a few more months, the service would have included a critical safety feature that automatically slows trains if they exceed speed limits.
"The accident raises questions about the decision to start the new passenger line before the safety technology, known as Positive Train Control, was scheduled to be fully operational next spring."
Had they waited till next year they would have been required to have automatic train braking safety devices.
How did that work out?
Paul in PA
If the source I saw was reliable the initial NTSB report said they tried to take a 30mph curve at 80... that never works out well, in my experience
